Monthly Archives: March 2022

About suffering they were never wrong

Posted on March 11, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

W. H. Auden’s “Musée des Beaux Arts,” written in 1938, is one of the better-known examples of ekphrasis, or poems inspired by artworks, up there with Keats’s “Ode on a Grecian Urn” and Rilke’s “Archaic Torso of Apollo.”Auden’s subject is … Continue reading →

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Stand With Ukraine

Posted on March 10, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

It’s heartening to see the response from street artists around the world who have created amazing murals to support the Ukrainian people in such a short period of time.  

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Bookstore Tourism: The End of an Era

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

A 143 year legacy will soon be coming to an end after it was announced last week that Waterstones has bought Blackwell’s, the UK’s biggest independent bookshop chain. This will mean that Waterstones, Barnes & Noble, Foyles and Blackwell’s will all … Continue reading →

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Historic Borders

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

With the tragic news unfolding daily in Europe, it’s an appropriate time to take stock of how we got here. I’ve always found that maps can be an excellent way to help visualize geo-political conflicts. I recently discovered this simple, … Continue reading →

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forever making poems in the lap of death

Posted on March 7, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Humanity I Love You Humanity i love you because you would rather black the boots of success than enquire whose soul dangles from his watch-chain which would be embarrassing for both parties and because you unflinchingly applaud all songs containing … Continue reading →

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Ukraine: Finding Context

Posted on March 6, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Like most people these days, I have been trying to learn more about the regional war that Putin has launched against Ukraine and to put it all in context. Sadly, I must admit that I have always paid more attention … Continue reading →

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“How can I begin anything new with all of yesterday in me?”

Posted on March 5, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

It was announced last week that a previously unpublished book by Leonard Cohen—rejected by two publishers and then set aside—will be published this October by Grove Press. The novel, A Ballet of Lepers, will be published with fifteen short stories and … Continue reading →

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It is the small everyday deeds of folk that keep the darkness at bay

Posted on March 4, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

If you are a regular visitor to TBTP, you are well aware that I am a Tolkien aficionado. I imagine that many of you are also fans. Then you will be happy to learn that the Tolkien Estate has launched … Continue reading →

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Books for Ukrainian Kids

Posted on March 3, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

Theodore’s Books in Oyster Bay, N.Y., is hosting a drive to send children’s books to facilities in Europe being used by Ukrainian refugees. Former U.S, Congressman Steve Israel, Theodore’s owner, said, “As a Congressman, I was able to support funding … Continue reading →

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How We Can Help

Posted on March 2, 2022 by Brian D. Butler

I’m sure that most of you are following the horrible events unfolding in Ukraine. It has been an awful week for the people of the region and there doesn’t seem to be much to be hopeful about. However, instead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe, History | Tagged , , | 2 Comments